Multifiber ferrule with precision bumpers and methods for making the same
View Patent ↗A multifiber (MF) ferrule produced using a ferrule molding insert that is jig ground in order to improve the tolerance on the bumper height of a molded ferrule and the surface finish on the region of interest (ROI), thus improving manufacturing yields.
1. A ferrule molding insert, comprising:
a region of interest forming portion having a surface that is jig ground; and
at least one bumper forming portion having a surface that is jig ground.
2. The molding insert according to claim 1 , wherein the molding insert produces a
ferrule having a bumper height tolerance of 15+/−3 microns.
3. The molding insert according to claim 1 , wherein the molding insert produces a
ferrule having a bumper height tolerance of 15+/−2 microns.
4. The molding insert according to claim 1 , wherein a region of interest surface and a bumper surface of a ferrule molded using the insert have a surface finish less than about 25 nm R a .
5. The molding insert according to claim 1 , wherein a region of interest surface and a bumper surface of a ferrule molded using the insert have a surface finish less than 20 nm R a .
6. The molding insert according to claim 1 , wherein the insert is jig ground using a bottom portion of a grinding wheel.
7. A ferrule molded using a molding insert comprising:
a ferrule body defining at least one fiber opening for receiving an optical fiber therein;
an end face positioned about the at least one fiber opening of a connective end of the ferrule body providing an end face plane;
a region of interest located on the end face and about the at least one fiber opening;
at least one guide pin opening for receiving a guide pin therein;
at least one bumper located about the at least one guide pin opening and wherein the end face is not positioned on the bumper; and
wherein the ferrule has a region of interest surface and a bumper surface finish less than about 25 nm R a .
8. The ferrule according to claim 7 , wherein the ferrule has a bumper height tolerance of 15+/−3 microns.
9. The ferrule according to claim 7 , wherein the ferrule has a bumper height tolerance of 15+/−2 microns.
10. A method of manufacturing a multi-fiber ferrule molding insert, comprising:
jig grinding a region of interest forming portion on the molding insert, and
jig grinding at least one bumper forming portion on the molding insert.
11. The method according to claim 10 , wherein the molding insert produced has a
ferrule having a bumper height tolerance of 15+/−3 microns.
12. The method according to claim 10 , wherein the molding insert produced has a ferrule having a bumper height tolerance of 15+/−2 microns.
13. The method according to claim 10 , wherein a region of interest surface and a bumper surface have a surface finish less than about 25 nm R a .
14. The method according to claim 10 , wherein a region of interest surface and a bumper surface have a surface finish less than 20 nm R a .
15. The method according to claim 10 , wherein the jig grounding of the region of interest forming portion is performed by using a bottom portion of a grinding wheel.
16. The method according to claim 10 , wherein the jig grounding of the at least one bumper forming portion is performed by using a bottom portion of a grinding wheel.
17. The method according to claim 10 , wherein the region of interest forming portion has a flatness of about 0.2 μm.
18. The method according to claim 10 , wherein the at least one bumper forming portion has a roughness of about 0.0124 μm R a .